Explain three reasons why it might be necessary to change leadership styles to ensure effective management during a project.

Question 1

Explain three reasons why it might be necessary to change leadership styles to ensure effective management during a project.

Answer 1

• An issue that threatens project success
• New personnel
• Inexperience team member

Question 2

Explain three reasons why it might be necessary to change leadership styles to ensure effective management during a project.

Answer 2

If there is an issue that threatens project success, a leader would need to adapt their leadership style and become more directive. The more serious the situation the more the leader will have to exercise control and adopt a directing style. Directive leadership is similar to the autocratic style of leadership, in this case, the Project Manager would tell the team member what to do and how to do it. For example, if project team members are in danger of breaching health and safety rules a Project Manager would need give strict instructions so that nobody gets hurt, and the project remains viable.

Question 3

Explain three reasons why it might be necessary to change leadership styles to ensure effective management during a project.

Answer 3

If new people were to join a project team, the change in personnel could cause the team to restart the team formation process. Individuals would explore each other’s attitudes and backgrounds. Individuals establish their identities and make a personal impression on others (i.e the Forming stage of ‘Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development’.Therefore, the project manager might change their leadership style from the delegating style to a directing style. As the project team restructures itself the project manager can change their style to recognise the growing confidence, competence and unity of the project team and revert to the delegating/participative style.

Question 4

Explain three reasons why it might be necessary to change leadership styles to ensure effective management during a project.

Answer 4

When dealing with an inexperienced project team member a project manager may change to a coaching or mentoring style if there is enough time to focus on development, for example, a new project team member may be coached by the more experienced team members or the project manager. Eventually, the new team member may be given more responsibility during a project as they gain more confidence and experience from phase to phase. The leadership style should be adapted to suit the needs of the project team, their different levels of competency and the work that needs to be accomplished, this is called “Situational Leadership”